Drink measuring device



March 12, 1946.

F. H. OSBORNE DRINK MEASURING DEV Filed July 1, 1943 Fgfgi Invenfalj TM 2/. 3m,

arch 12, 1946. {.1 HO B E 2,396,527 I DRINK MEASURING DEVICE FiledJuly l, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In venZ-w;

Patented Mar. 12,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Fred H. Osborne, Snyder, N. Y., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, North Tonawanda, N. Y., a corporation of Ohio Application July 1, 1943, Serial No. 493,021

4 Claims. (01. 225-21) This invention relates generally to the drink vending art but more particularly to a metering or measuring device designed for use with coincontrolled beverage vending apparatus.

It has for one of its objects to provide a measuring device of this character which is designed to eifectually govern by float-controlled means the delivery of a predetermined amount of the beverage to the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drink measuring device including a vessel having upper and lower compartments in valvecontrolled communication and wherein the lower compartment serves as a measuring chamber and the upper compartment functions as a floatcontrolling chamber for governing the delivery of a predetermined amount of the beverage to the vessel.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the measuring device embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of a form of timing mechanism employed for the filling and dispensing operations.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

This metering or measuring device has been controlled by a, valve 24, and extending axially downward from the partition-port l4 into this compartment is a tube 25 having vent openings 26 at its upper end for forcing the displaced air from the lower compartment into the upper compartment I2 during the filling or charging operation. This vent tube terminates above the bottom of the-lower compartment and interposed in the resulting space and over the beverage intake is a baiile 21 which prevents surgin of the drink as it enters and rises in the vessel.

primarily designed for use with refrigerated beverage dispensing apparatus of the coin-controlled type and wherein, upon the deposit of a coin, a predetermined amount of the beverage is automatically dispensed from the device into a paper cup or like receptacle.

In its preferred construction shown in the drawings, this measuring device consists of a beverage-receiving vessel or container it divided by a horizontal partition it into communicating upper and lower compartments i2 and i3. respectively, the partition having a port It therein to which is applied a downwardly-closing valve i5 having a stem it rising therefrom and guided in a bushing li fitted in the head of the vessel. The lower compartment l3 constitutes the measuring chamber and is of a size to receive a cupful or other amount of the beverage to be vended, being provided at its lower end with an inlet conduit i8 and an outlet conduit E9. The inlet conduit is adapted to be connected to a beverage supply tank and has a valve 20 interposed therein for controlling the delivery of a predetermined amount of the drink to the The upper compartment functions to govern the admission of a predetermined amount, of the beverage to the vessel and for this purpose constitutes a float chamber in which a float 28 is mounted for initiating the closing of the beverage delivery valve 20 when the beverage reaches a. predetermined level in such chamber. This float is applied to one arm of a'bell crank lever 29 pivoted at 30 to the compartment wall, the other arm thereof being disposed to abut against the inner end of a thrust rod 3i guided in such wall and whose outer end presses against a diaphragm 32 mounted in a housing 33 suitably attached. to the vessel. Pressing against the outer face of this diaphragm is a similar thrust rod 36 having a spring 35 thereon which bears at one end against the housing and at its other end against said'diaphragm for normally urging the alining rods inwardly. The outer end of the rod 34 is disposed in operative relation to a normally closed micro-switch 36 included in the circuit of a solenoid 31 for governing the closing of the delivery valve 2t. When the float reaches a certain level in the compartment l2, it causes the alining rods SI, 34 to be thrust outwardly to open the micro-switch and cause the delivery valve to close;

A source of compressed air, for the purpose of reducing effervescence or heading of the beverage as it is admitted to the vessel, is adapted to be introduced into the upper compartment through a conduit 38 controlled by a valve 39 having a solenoid 4U operatively connected thereto for effecting its opening. This valve is adapted to be opened during the filling operation and the pressure delivered to the upper compartment is lower than that of the pressure under which the beverage is delivered to the vessel. An atmospheric inlet 4! is connected to this upper compartment and is controlled by a valve 42.

The atmospheric inlets 23 and 4| communieating with the compartments l3 and 12, respectively, are normally closed and are adapted to be moved to their open positions by companion solenoids 43 and 44. The partition-port valve I5 is likewise normally closed and is movable to an open position by a solenoid 45. The dispensing valve is adapted to be similarly opened at a predetermined time by a solenoid 48.

To fill the vessel with a charge of the beverage, valves 39 and I5 are opened and air at low pressure enters the upper and lower compartments l2 and I3 until the pressure therein equals that of the air supply, when the valve 39 is closed and the beverage delivery valve 20 is opened. As the beverage rises in the lower compartment, the air is displaced therefrom through the tube-vents 26 and partition-port l4 into the upper compartment, and as the beverage enters the latter the float 28 is raised and at a predetermined level effects the opening of the switch 36 to de-energize the solenoid 31 and cause the delivery valve to close. Thereupon, the partition-port valve l5 closes and remains closed during the dispensing of the beverage from the measuring compartment l3.

When it is desired to pour the measuredquantity oi the beverage from the vessel, the solenoid-actuated dispen ing valve 22 is ppened and immediately thereafter the atmospheric inlet valves 24 and 42 are opened to admit atmosphere to the compartments l2. l3. As soon as the measurin com artment 3 is em tied. the partition valve I5 is opened and the dis ensing valve is closed. permittin the bevera e in the u er compartment to flow into the lower one. This causes the float 8 t be lowered and the switch 36 governed thereby to be closed and in readiness to c m lete the ci cuit to the delivery valve controlling solenoid 31. Valves I 5, 24 and 42 t en close and valve 39 o ens to recommence the cycle 01' a ain fillin the vessel with a measured amount of the d i k. The ve sel mav be complete y emptied of its c ntents by keeping valves I5, 22, 24 and 42 o ened until drained.

In practice. a timing mechani m of any suitable construction may be em loyed forovernin the openina of the solenoid-control ed drinkdelivery and drink-dis ensing valves 20 and 22.

the'solenoid-controlled atmospheric inlet valves 24 and 42, as well as for governin the solenoidcontrolled. partition port valve I5 and the air delivery valve 39. In Fi ure 2 a dia ram of one form of timing mechanism is .shown, wherein timing cams 41, 48, 49. 50 and 5| are, provided which function to govern the o ening and closing of companion switches53. 5 4, 55, 56 and 51 included in the circuits of the respective solenoid-actuated valves. Inasmuch as the 'ventnt o g. solenoid-o erated valves 24 and 42 are operated simultaneously, onecam 48 and one switch 54 have been shown associated with the solenoids 43 and 44. Also included in the circuit is a cam 52 for controlling the on and off switch 58 of the device.

I claim as my invention:

1. A measuring device for beverages, comprising a vessel divided by a partition into communicating beverage compartments and having a normally-closed valve therein for controlling the flow of the beverage from one compartment to the other, one of said compartments constituting a measure chamber and-having valved inlet and outlet conduits connected thereto for controlling the admission under pressure of a measured quantity of the beverage to and its discharge from the vessel, electromagnetic means operatively connected to said partition-valve for causing its opening, and a liquid level control means in the other of said compartments and having an operative connection to said beveragemeasuring valved inlet for closing the same when the beverage reaches a predetermined level therein.

2. A measuring device for beverages, comprising a vessel divided by a partition into communicating upper and lower beverage compartments and having a normally-closed valve therein for controlling the flow of the beverage from one compartment to the other, means connected to said valve for opening it at a predetermined time, valved inlet and outlet conduits connected to the lower compartment for controlling the admission under pressure of a measured quantity of the beverage to and its discharge from the vessel, a valved inlet conduit connected to the upper compartment for controlling the admission of air under pressure thereto during the admission 0! beverage to the vessel, and a float disposed in said upper compartment and having an operative connection to said beveragemeasuring valved inlet for causing its closing when the beverage reaches a predetermined level.

3. A measuring device for beverages, comprising a vessel divided by a partition into communicating upper and lower beverage compartments and having a valve therein for controlling the flow of the beverage from one compartment to the other, valved ports in the upper end of each compartment and opening into the atmosphere, a low pressure air intake in said upper compartment adaptedto be opened during the admission of the beverage to the vessel and to be closed when the pressure in the vessel has risen to that of the pressure admitted, valved inlet and outlet conduits connected to the lower compartment for controlling the admission of adivided by a partition into communicating upper and lower compartments and having a normallyclosed valve therein for controlling the flow of the beverage from one compartment to the other, the lower compartment constituting a measuring chamber and each compartment having a normally-closed valved port therein opening into the atmosphere, a valved intake for introducing a charge or low fluid pressure into the upper compartment, normally-closed, valved inlet and outlet conduits connected to the lower compartment for controlling the admission of a measured quantity or the beverage to and its discharge from the vessel, and control means including electromagnetic valve operating means cooperating with the ,aforesaid valves and valved elements and adapted for controlling the same at predetermined times during the beverage-charging and discharging operations.

FRED H. OSBORNE. 

